Autopneumatic piano.



A. J. HOBART.

AUTOPNEUMATIG HANo.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 21, 1910,

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOH l TTURHEKS A. I. HUBART.

AUTOPNEUMATIG PIANO. AP'PLIUATIOH FILED MAR. 21, 1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

989, 1 52, Patented Apr. 11, 1911;

QM y@ 1 n. u ff-7M. v l 4MM l A. J. 1101311111. AUTOPNEUMATIG PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 21, 1910.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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IN1/Enron y A. J. HOBART. AUTOPNBUMATIG Puno. APPLICATION FILED MAR 21. 1910 Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

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lwfurwr rrom'lfns A. J. HOBART.

AUTOPNEUMATIG PIANO.

APPLIGATION FILED 111111.21, 1910.

989,152. Patented Apr. 11, 1911'.

'T SHEETS-SHEET 5. Fad/ a m i TTOHNE V8 A. J. HUBART. AUTOPNEUMATIG PIANO. APPLICATION FILED 111111.21, 1910.

989,152. 111111161' Apr. 11, 1911.

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records to be greatly.inuiedet UNITED ADAM JQ HOBAET,

STATES PATENT oEEioE.

AUTOPNEUMATIC PIANO.

Application filed March 21. 1916.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latei'it-ed. Apr. il, 3t91.

Serial No. 550,675.

To all whom it' may concern: `Be it knovfn that l. ADAM Pl`..ll'o'e.\u'r. a citizen of the United States. residing at St. Johnsville.y county of lli/lontgomery. State of New York. have invented neur and useful Improvements iu Autopueuinatic Pianos. of which the following; is a specication.

his invention relates to imprmvements in autopneumatic pianos and more. particularly to that class thereof which is coin-controlled. lith struments of this class were operated by means of endless records. each comprising' x series of different tunes. As such endless records, for obvious remsons7 cannot. be coiled upon rollers. but must be loosely folded Within a box of limited capacity which also contains the. feed and guide rollers.y the number of airs carried by a single record was practically limited. More particulz'irly is this so. because au excessive number of folds would cause the recordV to become entangled during handling and an interchange of the ln order to overcome all these difficulties, applicant uses a record which is Wound upon a suitable core or delivery rollerv and which may be of anylength desired7 so as to embody a large number of various pieces ot music. From this roller the record is intermittently transferred upon a. receiving dru1n,'\vhile the airs contained by said record are consecutively rendered. The rendition of each individual air is caused b v the introduction of a coin into a suitable coin box. While the record is automaticallyarrested after the completion of such air. After finishing the last air of the record` the latter is automatically rewound upon the delivery roller until it occupies the position for repeating the lirst air. `\vl1ere-.

upon it is arreated, to play saidffirst air upon the introduction of a coin. Further means are provided for completely winding the record upon the delivery roller and unhooking it from the receiving roller, 'so that it is in condition to be exchanged. Means are further provided for rewinding the record at any desired moment. so as to permit the introdllction of a new record before all the airs of the first record have been rendered.

The. in" tion further comprises a seriesy -of novel features which are pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l` the constructions hitherto used. in.

" 3,6 is removable.

nor projection which 1s received wltlnn a vention. the case being partly broken away; Fig. 2.a front elevation of the record actuatincY means: Fig. 3 a vertical section on line 33. Fig. 2, with' some of the parts omitted; Fig'. 4 a plan of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a vertical section on line .rl- 5, Fig. 2; Fig. G a detail of the drum driving gear; Fig. 7 a cross sec tion through one of the air valves; Fig. S a sectional front elevation of the vacuum producing and controlling means; Fig. E) a` side View thereof; F ig. l() a plan of Fig. 8; Fig. 1l a horizontal section on line ll-ll, Fig. 8; Fig. asimilar section on line lQ-l', Fig. 8; Fig. 13 a detail of the crank shaft and cooperating parts for actuating the vacuum pumps; Fig. l/l` a detail of one of the connecting rods; Fig. l5 a side vievv of `the means for setting` the hammer rail; Fig. 1G a front elevation, partly in section7 of the pneumatic action; Fig. l? a vertical section on line l'-Jl. Fig. lo; Fig. 18 shows part of record g' Fig.. .18 illustrates part of the record provided with perforationsfor playinm pianissinio. and lil is a diagram showing the tubing between the several pneumatics. l

lVit-hin they casing 25 of an autopneumatic pianoor similar instrument is inounted a. frame 26 that contains the delivery roller Q7 and the receiving drum 28 of the perforated double-ended music sheet or reo ord 29. One end. of roller 27 is loosely mounted on an axially displaceahle spring- `influenced pintle 30. while its other end en gages a socket 3l which is journaled in an extension frame 352 secured to frame. 26. ln

like manner, one end of drum 28 is looselyl and drum 9.8 may bev removed from frame v 32, as usual with instruments of this class.

I prefer' to cure one end of record 29 to a tube 35 of card board or similar material. This tube is adapted to be slipped over roller 9.7, for which purpose one of its flanges Tube 35 has a suitable in corresponding cavity 37 .of roller 27,10 he positively taken along during the rotation of the latter.-

Drum Q8 is provided with a hook 38 which is adapted to be engaged by a ring; 39 secured to the free end of record 29. inter mediate roller Q7 and drum 28 is arranged atraclter bar elfi, the record being held against said bar during its travel by a gravity bail lll loosely hung in rame. it its top, traine tt-l is partly cut away as at l2 to 'permit the ligl'itoi an incandescent lamp i3 to be tl Town upon the rollers, thereby facilitatin the exchange of the records.

Roller 'f77' and. drum 28 are adapted to be alternately coupled to a driif'ing shalt fill journaled in trame 32 ant4 4carrying a stepped pulley 4to. The latter is partly embraced by a rope itl which receives motion from an eleetroinotor #i7 .in manner llereinatter described. To shalt le is lreyed a pinion i3 permanently meshing into a pinion which is carried by' one arm of a tivoarni lever The latter turns loosely on sh dal and. operated by rewinding bellows' 5l, the movable board olf which is, by link connected to said, lever. Normally bellows 5l are expanded by spring .53.in which condition ol' the bellows, pinion 49 engages a toothed wheel irmly secured to the socket Bl oiE drum 28. ln this Way motion may be transmitted from driving shaft lll to drurii 28 for advancing' the record Whenever it is deaired to render a piece of music.

For rewinding the record, bellows 5l are collapsed in nuinner hereinafter described, wherebyv lever is swung into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. ln this position, pinion i9 is disengaged from toothed Wheel 54C and meshes into a toothed wheel 55 loosely turning on a pintle 5t. Gear Wheel 55 engages a pinion 57 which loosely embraces a shaft 58 hung in frame 32. Upon shalt 58 is journaled a sprocket Wheel 59 which is, by chain 60, connected to a sprocket Wheel 61 secured to socket 3l. I prefer to employ a spring 62 for transmitting motion from pinion 57 to sprocket- Whcel 59,-'Which spring must lirst be placed under a certain tension before starting the rewinding operation, so as to avoid shocks and to insure a uniform rewinding of the record. Spring 62 is shown to encircle the hubs of pinion 57 and sprocket wheel Fil.; one end ot the spring being secured to the pinionhub, While its other end is secured to 'the Wheel.

During; rewinding, pinion .-19 and wheel 55 are held in permanent engagement by a lever 63, the hook-shaped end (34 of which is adapted to engage lever 50. Lever is fulcrumed at 65 and is engaged bya spring G6 that forces the leveragainstan arm 67 projecting upwardly from the movable board of trip bellows (S8, the outwardmovement of said board beingr limited by a fixed stop 5S). Bellows 68 are normally expanded, so

` that hook lS/lis projected into the path of lever 50. p 5U will thus7 by hook fl. be retained lever Upon the collapse oli' bellows 5l. l

ladditional coins the oaeral'ion described i l in its advanced position. After the rewinding haslbeen completed, bellows 68 are collapsed in manner hereinafter described7 thereby withdrawing hook Get from lever Spring 53 is noiv free to expand bellows lil. thereby swinging pinion 49 away from gear Wheel ,55 and iinto enga-gement with gear wheel 54. Alter the driving axle has thus been coupled to the receivingl drum, the instrlnnent is arrested before starting` the rendition of the first air embodied in the record. The means for arresting the instrument will be described further below, it being preferred to lirstdisclosethe means for starting` and operating the same.

lilleetromoter 47 is, by rope 70 and pulley 7l, connected to the rranlr shaft '72 of the vacuum pump 73, While a. stepped pulleyTl, keyed to sha ft 72, is engaged by rope flo. 'lt will tllusI be seen lthatupon the start of elec troniotor 47, the vacuum pump 73, well as driving,` shaft fie, are set in motion. Eleotromotor 47 is started by the introduction of a coin into a coinslot which communicates with a coin-chute 75. This chute de livers the coin upon the free end of a switch lever 76 contained in a bei: A, thereby depressing, the same and closing the electro motor circuit.

lt will be seen that after the introduction ot a proper coin, the circuit of cleot-romotor 1li' will be Closed, to start theinstrument. fitter one air has been completely rendered, the electromotor circuit is automatically opened to arrest pump 73 and record 29. The means .for producing this result are as follouv's: ln addition to the perforations 77, which actuate the tune producingl bellows 77a, the record is provided at the end of each individual air, (excepting the last air), with an additional perforationy 78Which is thus placed at the head of the succeeding air and controls duct 7 9 of tracker bar 405 The lat-v ter is, by tube 80, connected to valve box 8l provided with an extension 82, and containing` a primary valve 83 and a secondary valve 84. Briefly stated, these valves rest upon. diaphragme 85, 86 contained in vacuum chambers 87,` 88 respectively, Then perf@ ration 78 registers with duct 79, air Will be admittedbelow diaph agua through tube 8O and duct Si), so that the diaphragm will raise valve Y. duct 90 to the lower side of diaphragm 86, which, in. turn, will raise valve 841-. In this way bellows 91 Willbe connected to vacuum chamber 88 vthrough a tube 92, thus collapsfor advancing a coin ejector 93 to throw the rendition ofthe piece of music, from said lever7 thereby causing the latter to open the switch of the electromotor circuit, and arrest the iastrament.` Upon the introduction oit' EL3, thereby admitting air through ing the bellows. This collapse` is utilized will be repeated until the last air has been rendered.

valves 83 and 84), the secondary valve con-y neeting bellows 51 by tubes S17, 0S, with the vacuum Chamber of valve box 81 when perforation 94 registers with duct $15'. Bellows 51 will thus collapse to couple driving` shaft t. to roller 27, in the nranner described, thereby rewinding the record.

1n order to stop rewinding after record Q9 has been sufficiently coiled around roller 27 to permit the rendition ofthe first air ern- ,bodied on said record, an additional perforation 99 is provided in record Q9 which is arranged slightly in front of the beginning of the first air. This perforation is adapted to register with a duet 100 of the tracker bar, `which is, by tube 10-1, connected with a set of primary and secondary valves arrangedv in extension 82 of valve box 81. primary falve plays in a vatuiun chamber 87, while the secondary valve connects bellows 0S through tubes 1,02, 10Q?, 109) with vacuum chamber 88a, when perforation 09 registers with duct 100. Bellows G8 will thus collapse to withdraw hook (Slt from le ver 50 and recouple driving` shaft llt to drum 28, as above deseribed i During the entire rewindintgr operation, the tune producingbellows 7T, and the switch-actuating bellows 91 should be rendered inoperative inl order to prevent the sounding of notes and prevent the arrest of the rewinding operation when perforations 77 and 78 pass over the corresponding tracker bary ducts. For this purpose, duetI 95, besides being operatively connut-ted to bellowsA 51, is connected to vmeans for severing the pneumatic action of bellows 77a and 91, from pump 73, while' on the other hand` duct 100. besides beingI operatively connectedto bellows (i8. returns said means into their original position for reconnecting' the pneumatic aetion of bellows 77 and 91 to the vacuum pump.

1n order to arrest the record after drum 28 has been recoupled to driving shaft 44, in the manner described and before the first air is played. a iwrforation TS is provided intermediate perforation 9.0 and said lirst air. 1f this perforation 7S registers with duet T0. bellows 91 will be collapsed to open the switch vof the eleeti'omotor and thus arrest the instrument.

Forjrewinding the reeord before all the music pieces have been played, a valve 102% is provided, said valve having' an air inlet cluot104 andan air outlet duct 105 which ducts'may beeonnected' byfan angular duet 1 6 of axplug 107. Duet, 105 communieates At the end of said last musicy piece, a perforation 911 1s provided in record *109 is provided between tubes Willen this valve is closed, the uncovering The vsive,bello\vs 12T will first collapse.

by tube 108, with tube 06, so that by opening valve 103, the same result will be obtained as'was produced'by the registration of perforation 911 with duet 95, 2'., 6.,'the record will be. rewound.- y

For completelyrewinding the record and disengagingr the same from hook 38, a valve iosa, 102i.

of duct 1007 by perforation 99, is rendered inelfectivc, so that. bellows G8 cannot eollapse. ln this way the rewindingl will be continued until ringl 3) slips oilI hook BS, so that-the record may be readily exchanged.

lumpT2l, hereinabove referred to, comprises essentially three bellows 110, each having a lower iixetl board 111., channeled as at 112, and an upper movable board 113. The openings 114, which Connect channels 112 with the bellows, are controlled by a leather flap 115, while the perfor-ations 11G of the movable boards are controlled by 'flaps 117. To each movable board 113 is secured a rod 118, the upper end of which bent, as at 119. rllhe crank pins 120 of shaft Ti), are straddled by a pair of spaced blocks 121 held to yarm v119 by screws Between the heads of these serews and' lower block 121.

there are interposed springs 1F23 which vieldi ingly hold blocks 121 to crank pins 120, so that all undesirable rattling` of the pump is avoidethevcn after said pins and blocks are partly worn out.

Channels 112 communicate with an upright duet 152+ that opens into a mainaf'acuum chamber '125 of a box 120. In order to maintain a uniform vacuum within said chamber, a` pair of connnunicating compensation bellows l, 12S are provided. These bellows are normally spread by springs V129, 130, reslieclively, ot which spring` 130 is somewhat stronger than spring 129. The outer board 131 of bellows 128 is provided with a perforation 132 which is controlled by a flap valve 13?) influenced by springs 1'-. From valve 1&3?) projects upward an 'arm 1?5 carrying; an adjustable button 136 which is adapted to abut against box 120. lf, during play. the vacuum becomes exces- If the eollapse of these bellows is not sullicient 'to eoi'npensate for the high vacuum, bellows 12S' will also collapse. until finally button 'lilo bears against box 126 and thereby opens flap valve 13?) to admit air into bellows 12S.

The means for'automatically disconnectiupY the pneumatic artion of the tune prodlu'ino' bellows.l etc., while rewii'iding the' record. are as follows: To box 126 there is secured, by suitable brach-cts, duplex bellows i adjuslably held to the eye by a pair 'of nuts' 142-. This rod passes through a perforation gli or" boi; into a eliamber 141-3 thereof and is secured, at .its inner end, to slide valve l/l-fl. The latter isiulluenced by a spring 1f-l-6 and eontrols an opening ll neots main vacuum Chanda-ir 125 with valve chamber 14:3. This valve chandler eoinniunr eat s through a pair or' openings 1417, 1.#18, with a second valve chamber lil-9. From the latter there lead a pair ol? tubes 156, 151 to the ends of yalve bor: thus establishing eoinniunica'tion between the Yiifmuiun. chain bers ot the primary and secondary valves oit 'the pneuniatic action and chamber 14:9. r.lflie vaoiunn ciiainberstil, oit extension 82,

are, by duet 152 and tube 153, Conner:ted

with main vacuum e'nsvmber Bellows 12:37 is, by tube 15e, eonneeted 'to tubes 102, 102, while bellows 13d is, by tube 1555170 'heeled to tubes 97, 38. lt will that when bellows 51 are collapsed.I owing to the registration of perforation with due-t 95, bellows 136` will also collapsed to" close opening` 146 by 1Valve 14rd. ln this way tubes 150, 151 out oli' from the main vacuum chamber 125, so that the tune producing bellows 77 and the stop' bellows 91 are rendared inoperative, while vacuum chambers 87a, 88a; remain in conimunieati'on with the main vacuum Chznnber 125 tlirongh tube 1 'k f lVhen peilor'ation Q9, of record 29, registers with duct .100., bellows 66 well as bellows i 137, will be eolla sed, to stop the rewinding CIZ operation and to simultaneously collapse bellows 137, thereby opening valve 141-. ln this way bellows 77 and 91 are reconnected to the main vacuum clian'iber 125, as will be readily understood.

The instrument is so constructed that lfor soft playing, the main vacuum chamber is partly cut oil the action bellows, so as to reduce the force of the hammer stroke, while simultaneously raising the hammer rail. For playing pianissimo, the vacuum is still decreased to further reduce the force or" the hammer stroke. '.lhe means for producingIf this resultare as follows: lhe ports 1117, 118', between vacuum chambers llland 1119,

controlled by spring-depressed valves 156, 157, to which' ro 158, 159 are respectively secured. lied 1:18 is adjnstably connected lo a. linger 160 projecting upward from the movable hoard of a vacuum reduc: ing bellows 161 which is normally dlstended by a spring 162. ln like manner, rodl is adjust-ably connected to a linger 163 projecting upward from the movable board of a .regula-ting bellows 164C whicliris normally distended by springs 165. Vlhe force of springs 165 exceeds that of spring' 162 so that bellows 161 will collapse prior to the collapse o1' bellows 1641. Finger 160 is adapted to move along a notched arm 166 secured.

to the movable board of trippbellows 167 ich is normally distended by a spring wh f" al of the planeacthat eonessaies extending cushioned linger 173. This linger 70 is adapted,to engage the shoulder 1711` of a lever 175 pivoted as at 176. The free end ol this lever rests upon a plate 177 projectingI from th movable board vol? trip bel-l lows 178. i

Bellows 161, 167, 172 and 178 are actuated in the :Following manner: lnaddition 'to the perforations described,l record 29 is provided with two rows of perforations 179,. 1,80. @it these, perforations 179 are provided in the record wherever it is desired to play softly. The instrument continues such soft play until Ione of -the perforations 180 is reached, which causes the instrument to` resume the forte play. Perforations 179,V 160 are` vadapted to register, respectively, with duets 181, 182 of trackerybar 40. Duct 181 is yby tube 183, connected-toa set of primary and secondary valvesy oi' box 81, the second* valve Connecting its vacuum chamber through tubes 184, 1841 and 184D, with bel lows 172, 161, respectively. Duct 182 is, by tube 185, connected to a set of primary and seconda-ry valves, the secondary valve connecting its vacuum chamber with bellows 178, 167 through tubes186, 186EL and 186D, respectively. llhen a perforation; 179 registers with duct181, bellows 161 and 172 will be simultaneously collapsed, as will be readily understood. During the collapse'ozf l10od bellows 1.61, linger 160 will enter the first` notch187 of arm 166 to become temporarily locked in thisiposition. Valve 156 will thus be advanced to partly elose passage 147, so

that the vacuum in the action bellowsV will be4 105 lowered, thereby reducing the force of the hammer stroke. Through the collapse of bellows 172, the hammer rail 169 is raised to reduce the stroke o1 the hammers, rail 169 being maintained in its raised position 110` owing to the engagement of finger 173 with i shoulder- 171- ot' lever 175. Then a perforation 180 subsequently registers With duct 182 trip' bellows 167, v1.78 willv be simule taneously collapsed. Arm 166 will thus be 115 withdrawn -from linger to permit the expansion ot' bellows 161, while plate 177 lifts lever 17V, thereby permitting hammerl raill 169 to return to its original position.

v.ll'vhenevor it is desired to play pianissimo 129 instead of forte, theV above described perfo-,- rations 179, 18() are made of equal lengths and are arranged so as to slightly overlap,` perforation-' being provided slightly in' advance of perforation 179, (Fig. 18".) Trip bellows 167 will thus be collapsed prior to the collapse of bellows 161, so that finger' 160 will pass over notch 187 Vand will engage the second notch or shoulder-188 of arm 166. As bellows 167, 178 are expanded before bel- 188 and shoulder 174, respectively. In this" way, valve 156 will be entirely closed, the air `being permitted to be withdrawn through port 148 only. The area of said Vport is controlled by valve 157, Which` by being actuated through regulating bellows 164, insures the maintenance of a uniform low vacuum.

For changing the expression from piano into pianissimo, a pair of perforatious 17%), 18() follows the perforation 179 which previously caused the expression forte to .be changed into piano. Of this pair, perforation 1S() should terminate slightly in ad- Vance of perforationl), so that trip bellows 167, 178 arrive at their locking position before bellows 161, 172 are permitted lo expand.

It will be seen that by the construction described, a coin controlled autopneumatic piano is endowed with all the advantages liowing fronnthe use of a double ended music sheet, and that the separate airs contained on said sheet may be consecutively rendered without necessitating any manipulation between the last and the irst air.` In this way the length oiE the music sheet may be greatly increased over that of the endless sheets heretofore generally employed in instru-I ments of the class described, to obtain a cerres )ending increase of the number of airs an avoid any monotony owing to a frequent repetition of the same airs.

I claim:

1 In an instrument of the class described, a delivery roller, a receiving' drum, a record engaging said roller and drum, -a driving shaft, a irst bellows controlled by (he record, means operable by said lirst bellows for coupling the driving shal't to the delivery roller, a second bellows also controlled by the record, and means operable by .sa id second bellows 'tor releasing the means for coupling Ythe driving shaft to the receiving roller.

2. In an instrument of the class described, a delivery roller, a lil-st gear wheel, a speed Iucreasinggear inleruuwliate said wheel and roller, a receiving drum, a second gear wheel secured thereto, a record engaging the roller and drum, adriving shaft, a'l'iist pinion sccurcd thereto, a lever loosely engaging the driving shaft, a second pinion carried by said lever and intergcared with the lrst pinion, .said second pinion being adapted to 'separatel y engage the lirst and second gear `wheels, a spring-intlnenced bellows controlled by t-he record and operably connected to the lever, and a trip bellows also controlled by the record vand engaged by the lever.

3. In an instrument of the class described, a record, a vacuum pump, irst vacuum 65 chambers adapted to communicate therewith, primary and secondary valves coperating with said vacuum chambers, hammer-y actuating bellows anda stop bellows controlled by said valves, second vacuum cham- `bers permanently communicating with the pump, a primary valve and aA secondaryvalve coperating with said second vacuum chambers, a rewinding bellows controlled by said last-named primary and ,secondary valves, and means controlled by the tune sheet for collapsing the rewinding bellows and for simultaneously interrupting communication between the pump and the vfirst vacuum chambers. v

4. In an instrument of the class described, a record, a main vacuum chamber, hammeractuating bellows and a stop bellows, a slidevalve controlling communication Y between the main Vacuum chamber and all of said bellows, a rewinding bellows, and means controlled by the record 'for simultaneously closing the slide Valve. and collapsing the rewinding bellows.

5. 'In an instrument of the class described, 90 a record, a main vacuum chamber, hammer' actuating bellows and a stop bellows, a slide valve controlling communication between'the vmain vacuum chamber and all-ofv said bellows, a duplex bellows operably con-.l nected to the slide valve, a rewinding bel"-` lows, and means controlled bythe record.' for simultaneously actuating' the duplex' bellows and the rewinding bellows.

(5. In an instrument of the classY described, a record, a main vacuum chamber, hammeractuating bellows and a stop bellows, a slide valve4 controlling' communication between the main vacuum chamber and all of said bellows, a rewinding bellows, a trip bellows opcrably connected to the rewinding bellows, means controlled by the record for closing the slide valve and collapsing the rewinding bellows, and means also controlled by the record for openinfr the slide valve and collapsing the trip bel ows.

Signed by me, at St. Johnsville, N. Y., this 14th day of March, 1910. L

ADAM J. HoBARn EDWARD It, HALL, DAvn) Crouse. 

